ortable without me. I
don't know when I became such friends with any one before as I have with
him. Well, did you get a good dinner?"

He fixed Esau with his eye, and I saw the perspiration begin to stand in
little drops on my companion's forehead, as he stammered out something
about "good-dinner."

"But what about yours?" I said.

"Oh, I was afraid of some muddle being made with our luggage, so I
stopped and got something to eat here."

"Our luggage?" I said.

"Oh yes," he replied with a curious laugh. "Mine is below too."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

GUNSON FIGHTS MY BATTLE.

Gunson left us then, as if on purpose to give us an opportunity to talk
about him; and as soon as he was out of hearing, Esau began by wiping
the perspiration from his forehead with the back of first one hand, then
with the other.

"It's o' no use," he said in a low, hoarse voice; "we shan't get rid o'
that chap till he has had his wicked way of us."

I was puzzled by Gunson's acts, but all the same, I could not help
laughing at Esau's comically dismal manner.

"Why, what idea have you got in your head now?" I cried.

"Him!" whispered Esau, in a tragic way. "I don't quite see through it
all, but I do through some of it. Look here, Mr Gordon, sir, you mark
my words, he's one of that gang we met at 'Frisco, only he plays the
respectable game. He'd got me into their hands, and had me robbed, and
then he was going to rob you, only I turned up just in time to save
you."

"Look here, Esau," I said angrily; "if you talk any more nonsense like
that I'll kick you."

"All right: kick away," he said--"I won't mind; but I'm not going to see
you served as I was without saying a word."

"What you said was ridiculous."

"It was ridiklus for me to be served as I was, p'r'aps, but never mind;
you'll see."

"I tell you what you say is absurd."

"Very well, then, you have a say, and tell me what he means by hanging
on to us as he does."

"I cannot explain it, of course. How can I tell what Gunson means? All
I know is, that it's better to have a man with us who seems to know
something about the country."

"Ah, but does he?" said Esau, with a cunning look. "I don't believe he
knows anything about it. He's been cramming us full of stories about
dangers and stuff to frighten us. You'll see it won't be half so bad as
you say. Hullo! what's the matter?"

For at that moment there arose a curious yelling sound which sent a
chill thro